PART OF THE

THIRTEENTH BOOK

OF

HOMER's

ODYSSE S.

Part of the

THIRTEENTH BOOK

O F

HOMER'S ODYSSES.

The beginning of this book defcribes the parting of Ulyffes from Phæacia; with the gifts of Alcinous to his gueft; and his taking fhip for his native country Ithaca.

T

HE Sun defcending, the Pheacian train

Spread their broad fails, and launch into the

main :

At once they bend, and strike their equal oars,
And leave the finking hills, and lefs'ning fhores.
While on the deck the Chief in filence lies,
And pleasing slumbers steal upon his eyes.
As fiery courfers in the rapid race,

Urg'd by fierce drivers thro' the dusty space,

Thy

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Tofs their high heads, and scour along the plain;
So mounts the bounding veffel o'er the main:
Back to the stern the parted billows flow,
And the black ocean foams and roars below.

Thus with spread fails the winged gally flies;
Lefs fwift, an eagle cuts the liquid skies:
Divine Ulyffes was her facred load,

A man, in wisdom equal to a God.

Much danger long, and mighty toils he bore,
In ftorms by fea, and combats on the shore:
All which foft fleep now banish'd from his breast;
Wrapt in a pleafing, deep, and death-like rest.

But when the morning star with early ray Flam'd in the front of heav'n, and promis'd day, Like diftant clouds the mariner defcries

Fair Ithaca's emerging hills arife.

Far from the town, a fpacious port appears,
Sacred to Phorcys' pow'r, whose name it bears;
Two craggy rocks, projecting to the main,
The roaring winds tempeftuous rage restrain;
Within, the waves in fofter murmurs glide,
And fhips fecure without their haulfers ride.